Ash entered the mage tower tentatively, his eyes scanning for any would-be threats. The huge doors stood at attention at either side of him like an oversized welcoming party. Inside revealed a grand entrance hall that reminded Ash of a strange, fantasy themed hotel.

The floor was a cold checkerboard marble that Ash was surprised to see was clean and undamaged, no sign of wear or age visible. The white walls were littered with a variety of artworks, paintings, sculptures and the occasional mounted animal head. Several stands and tables filled the emptiness of the large room: displaying busts and vases of foreign and bizarre design.

Several chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each consisting of a gold ring with light that bounced around the circumference, not from candles but small orbs of fire. They reminded him of Proxi, though his partner was more a glob of inky shadow. Ash pointed up towards the chandeliers, then back at Proxi.

“Hmmm” he vocalised and raised his eyebrows. His lips curled on end in subtle amusement.

Proxi chirped curtly at the comparison.

A purple carpet led from entrance, where Ash stood surveying, to the centre of the room before splitting and leading to a pair of winding staircases that led upwards around a central pillar before disappearing. In front of this pillar sat a small ivory desk, wedged between separation in the carpet. It was unattended save the few knick-knacks Ash could see strewn across the surface.

--

Ash walked forward at a reserved pace, peaking over his shoulder at the night covered gardens behind. Turning away from them, he heard a series of mechanical clicks, like a chain being pulled as the enormous door scraped against the flooring behind. Ash flinched from the heavy thud of the doors closing, the ground rumbling beneath his feet. He wondered if the door would open again if he walked back the other way.

Unlikely, he thought.

This was definitely a dungeon. Ash knew that wasn’t going to happen.

On the desk sat a small carving of a long-eared cat with a short nose and a bulbous bushy tail. Ash didn’t recognise the breed, which didn’t really surprise him. Next to it sat a small crystal pyramid, clear and precisely cut. To the left of both items was a small cream coloured scroll tied with two ribbons, purple and black. Ash’s eyes narrowed. So far, those had been colours associated with his element. He pouted, lifting his hand and letting it hover above the scroll.

“This must be for us” Ash commented, wrapping his fingers around the item.

He pulled at the tightly drawn ribbons and dropped them neatly on the desk. As he unfurled the scroll, Ash heard a ding from Proxi. It wasn’t their usual chirp; it was neutral and bell-like. Ash turned without a word and raised an eyebrow.

“Quest update!” Proxi revealed, “Escape part two: Ascend the Tower”.

“Anything else?” Ash asked, his brows furrowing.

Proxi bobbed in place, “Nope, apparently we’re up to part two though.”

“Then we’re on the right track after all.”

Ash pulled the scroll open, pulling it wide in front of him to read. Inscribed within was a welcome statement. It was written in the same alien script as the many symbols and writings he’d seen throughout the city. Ash was still surprised that he understood it. The letter welcomed him to a city named Pavonis.

“On behalf of the great wizard, Alderman and the people of Pavonis, we want to welcome you, Void Bearer, to our great city, and we look forward to the opportunity to meet you.

We are sure you have many questions, and all will be answered in good time. You are very dear to us, and we hope to offer you guidance and assistance in the events to come. We ask you remain patient for the time being.

In the meantime, our clerk will attend to your needs and guide you through the tower. We hope you can relax and refresh until you are called on.

Should you need anything please do not hesitate to ask.

All we ask is you imprint on this document.

Sincerely,

Thei Zephir.

Attendant of Alderman. “

Ash glowered, his face scrunching tightly. He looked away from the page to the empty desk. He thought of the empty, abandoned streets. The decay and ruined nature of the city. This welcome letter was addressed to him. At least, it matched the element had been given. It mentioned the people of Pavonis. What people? what clerk? There was no one to welcome him at all.

Ash’s jaw tightened, setting in a tight line. Something was wrong here. Nothing in this letter made sense. Maybe it wasn’t meant for him. Maybe it was just a cruel joke from whoever brought him here. Maybe it was his mind playing tricks on him in the hallucination. Was this another test?

Doubt flooded Ash’s mind as balled his fists, crumpling the ends of the scroll in his hands.

Breathe he told himself. Breathe.

Ash let out a long breath and relaxed his clenched jaw. He looked down at the letter again.

“Imprint on this document” he said aloud, “Imprint what?”

“Oooh maybe it’s blood” Proxi mused, hovering above the sharp crystal pyramid.

Ash frowned.

That unfortunately made sense.

“That feels like a bad idea, don’t you think?” Ash queried, “There’s no one here. This letter is from who knows. It mentions a wizard… and a city of people. I haven’t seen anyone, have you?”

“I haven’t Ash” Proxi replied, “Maybe imprinting opens up the top and you can finish the quest?”

Ash gnawed at his bottom lip. He still needed answers. He needed to finish this quest. This letter was the only sense of direction he had, but it felt wrong. Something was off. There was no clerk to guide him here. Ash breathed deep. He couldn’t risk being caught out by a trap, but He had to keep going. He didn’t have many choices here.

“What do you think? Risk it?” He asked Proxi, an unsure look drawn on his face.

“The blood? That does seem risky and a bit grim. Maybe you just need to press your finger to the paper?”

“That would be preferred.”

Ash put the paper down gently on the desk and lent forward, pressing his thumb beneath the signed name of Thei Zephir. He felt a surge of mana tickle his fingertip like a static shock.

Proxi was right.

Lifting his thumb from the page revealed a dark purple imprint.

I guess purple is my colour then, he thought.

“Let’s hope this works” Ash said, “Where to now?”

“The quest says to ascend the tower” Proxi replied.

--

Ash ascended the right set of stairs, each step providing a faint tap against the hard polished marble. He ran his hand against the smooth white railing and scanned the portraits lining the curved wall. The presented a cast of colourful characters dressed in gowns and donning long beards for the men and exotic hairstyles for both the men and the women. He noticed that the hair colours were distinct. The expected browns, blondes and blacks were as frequent as unusual reds, blues and greens. Ash sighed slowly. Every step forward seemed to tell him this was a video game, or a fantasy novel… or worse, a dream.

As Ash mused again whether he was hallucinating a coma dream he was met with a single red door with an engraved rune for the number one at the top of the staircase. He reached out and grasped the gold doorknob, turning it slowly. He pulled the door open and stepped through. As Ash stepped forward the door behind him snapped shut, provoking a squeal from Proxi.

Tapestries decorated the walls of the strange room. Between each of the tapestries was a single lit lantern. The colours inside were a deep orange, like a setting sun.

No danger, Ash thought.

The tapestries hung in tatters, the markings of once brilliant hues now old and worn by time. Despite the decay, Ash could make out magical scenes of dragons, battles and great heroes weaved into the long hanging cloths. They all all seemed to depict a burning cityscape which worried Ash.

Was that what had happened here? Were their monstrous dragons in this world?

For now, the room seemed quiet. A relic of the past.

To the far side of the room sat another door. It was a faded blue wood that was chipped and pitted. Strangely though, the door was decorated with a detailed bronze relief of a face twisted and strewn in anger. A small bronze plaque rested above it. He walked over to the blue door. There was no doorknob this time.

“What do you make of this?” Ash asked, gesturing at knobless door.

Proxi floated away from the tapestries, having been caught up and enamoured with the faded scenes.

“How strange” they said, studying the door, “No clue why though.”

Helpful, Ash thought.

He tried pushing the door open. No luck. He tried to pull it open, gripping the bronze sculpted face… to no avail. Ash huffed, turning to scan the room. There was nothing he could use to try and wedge it open either.

“Ash what does this say?” Proxi called.

Ash turned back to the door. Proxi was hovering in front of the bronze plaque. It was oxidised and dusted over. Ash leant forward, rubbing away the dust. He could make out a few of the aged engravinings.

“Hungry… touch…” He said, pausing.

Ash squinted as he tried to read the rest.

“Finger? That’s all I can make out.”

“Maybe it’s a clue!” Proxi proposed, “What is hungry and touches?”

Ash was sure there were more words covered by the oxidised rust and grit formed with age.

Ash walked over to the wall and pulled a tapestry free. It thumped to the ground, falling in a pile. He picked it up with his right hand. The fabric piece was heavy, and Ash noticed the intricacy of the stitching.

It must have taken a long time to make. Sorry about this, he thought, a twinge of guilt nagging at him as he dragged it over to the door.

Ash wiped at the plaque, digging his tapestry covered finger into the grooves and engravings. When it was clean enough, he stepped back, dropping the tapestry beside him.

The plaque read;

“I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I touch, Will soon turn red.”

The corner of Ash’s mouth quirked up.

It was a riddle.

This was something he was good at. Riddles were a staple to being a good dungeon master. How many nights had Ash spent writing up riddles and puzzles for his friends; a way to keep the game fresh and entertaining. This was finally something he knew.

“Proxi, come here” Ash called, his tone enthusiastic, “I think I’ve got something.”

--

Ash and Proxi debated about the riddles meaning. They wondered if it was a clue to a specific item in the room, one that could be used to open the door maybe? This however, had proved incorrect. There were only a few items aside from the lanterns and tapestries. There was a single small chair, a cup found in the corner and an old empty book that puffed dust into Ash’s face when he had closed it. The contents had provided little help either.

“Maybe the door opens if you can solve the riddle?” Proxi proposed, “maybe answer the riddle to the door itself?”

“That’s … not a bad idea” Ash agreed, a little embarrassed he hadn’t thought of that sooner. He had used that very trick himself many times in his dungeons.

“But this riddle, it isn’t one I’ve heard before” Ash explained.

“Well, what makes a finger red? Ink?” Proxi offered.

“why would ink need to be fed? Plus, not all ink is red.”

Proxi could only chirp in disagreement at Ash’s assessment.

The pair had debated back and forth for like this for about 10 minutes or so, continuing to search the room for any possible clues and ideas. Ash was growing frustrated. He felt he should have figured it out by now. How many riddles had he made, this should be easy. He chalked up his lack of progress to the fact he had not eaten in…well, Ash wasn’t sure how long it had been since he had eaten. He sighed. He just needed to find the right line of logic.

“So, what do you think Ash? It’s got to be a Sun. A star” Proxi declared assuredly.

“Why would it be a Sun? who do you know that touches stars?” Ash responded sarcastically. “Because a Sun would burn your finger if you touched it” Proxi retorted, “It’s simple you know.”

Burn.

BURN! Ash thought.

He whirled around, scanning each tapestry. Though the imagery had long faded with age, each scene included one crucial element.

“Fire!” He blurted, “It’s fire!”

Ash ran to the wall, pulling a lantern free. He carried it to the door hurriedly, opening the latch and taking out the small lit candle that was nestled inside. He presented it in both hands, offering it the door.

“The answer is fire” he said matter of fact, a hint of pride on his voice.

Nothing happened. No whirring. No mechanical gears. No ding notifications from Proxi either. Ash expected that to be the right answer. It had to be the right answer. Ash played the riddle out in his mind.

Fire burns on oxygen, it needs to stay lit. If you touch fire, you will burn your finger and burns turn red.

He was right. This had to be the answer. What was he missing?

Proxi had joined Ash by the door, watching him hold the single flamed candle aloft.

“Maybe you need to feed it to him?” Proxi whispered by Ash’s ear.

His eyes widened. That would be a very literal riddle, but he had nothing to lose. Ash raised the small candle to the lips of the enraged bronze face. The eyes glowed with an arcane energy and the sculptures bronze features moved unnaturally, settling into a contented smile. Ash heard a lock click from within the door and watched as it began to open.

This tower was a dungeon! Dungeons had puzzles and riddles. Ash was elated to have solved it but felt a sense of uncertainty as he stepped through the open doorway.

No dungeon has a single puzzle.

Proxi interrupted his thoughts, “You know, I’ve been told that suns and stars are made of fire.”

They were hovering alongside him, their outline tinged with the faintest orange glow. Were they… being smug?

“Oh yeah, who told you that?” Ash teased, flashing a half-cocked smile as he stepped out into a path of stairs.